Olympic fever continues to gain momentum as Canadian athletes continue to do us proud. Our own Tyler Nicholson brought North Bay to the world stage last week and although he didn’t make the podium, he showed incredible courage and confidence with his 7th place finish. That’s right folks, seventh best in the WORLD!!! Congratulations once again Tyler, you did your hometown proud.

The accomplishments of Tyler and the entire Canadian contingent in South Korea, is reason to celebrate by itself. Hearing our home town being mentioned in the televised coverage is also reason to thank Tyler for bringing recognition to North Bay. He is, one of our greatest ambassadors, right up there with the likes of Kate Pace-Lindsay, Steve Omischl and Barb Olmstead, all former Olympic athletes.

With the Ford Women’s World Curling Championships just under a month away, North Bay will be centre stage for the entire world to see and appreciate what we all know…this is one of the best places in the world to live and raise a family. When the opening rocks are thrown, and our region is showcased, it will be a terrific opportunity for all of us to show our support and make this event a big success. There are still tickets available for the event and we wish Rick Miller, Dave Bennett and the entire group of volunteers’, good luck.

We are fortunate as a community to be able to host these types of events and draw attention to our City through sports. Whether it be OFSSA soccer, Battalion Hockey or the Women’s World Curling, the City of North Bay is front and centre, when it comes to media and reporting. Since the Brampton Battalion became the North Bay Battalion, the City has received weekly, if not sometimes daily, press coverage that helps promote North Bay and the lifestyle that we enjoy with the OHL presence in our community.

We have a proud history in sports and as a community, it is the writer’s opinion, we need to support. When our community lost our OHL franchise, we lost one of those items that is considered part of our great quality of life, that we had enjoyed, and we are lucky to enjoy again. It is always a moment of pride when we hear North Bay mentioned on TSN, CBC, Cogeco or even NBC, when we are away travelling. The Olympic games last week and Tyler Nicholson, is prime example of hometown proud.

The North Bay Battalion are having a terrific season and headed back to be a play-off contender. The kids have really stepped up their game and it is exciting hockey to watch. We as a community should be supporting them. We need to support them as one of the primary sources of local, provincial and national media coverage as well. We need to rally behind them as they make they push for the playoffs. Community, sports and business…a good combination.

Peter Chirico is the President & CEO of the North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce.